United Nations, April 30 (PTI): United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon has asked countries which still possess chemical weapons to destroy them.

In a message on the occasion of the tenth anniversary of the Chemical Weapons Convention, he also urged governments that have not yet done so to ratify or accede to the Convention without delay.

The Secretary-General noted the progress that has been achieved in the past decade, pointing out that more than 25 per cent of declared chemical weapons stockpiles have been destroyed while the Convention now has 182 States Parties, covering 98 percent of the world's population.

The Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), which helps carry out the ban, "has made important gains in eliminating from the world an entire category of weapons of mass destruction," he said.

The anniversary is also observed as Remembrance Day for Victims of Chemical Warfare, and in his message, Ban called for action on their behalf. "Let us honour the victims of chemical warfare, and redouble our efforts to ensuring that no life on earth will be lost ever again due to the use of chemical weapons."

The treaty aims to eliminate an entire category of weapons of mass destruction by prohibiting the development, production, acquisition, stockpiling, retention, transfer or use of these arms by States Parties.

The Convention is considered unique for its incorporation of the "challenge inspection," which allows any State Party in doubt about another State Party's compliance to request the OPCW Director-General to send an inspection team.